Mathias Kiwanuka: Pursue or No? Part 1: Introduction

by John B on Jan 31, 2011 8:00 AM EST

There are not many players in the NFL with a more interesting family tree than Mathias Kiwanuka. His grandfather, Benedicto Kiwanuka, was the Prime Minister of Uganda who was murdered by the forces of Idi Amin, a ruthless leader who led a military coup of the nation. Kiwanuka's parents fled to American amid the nation's strife. Their son, Mathias, was an excellent athlete and won a football scholarship to Boston College. The Eagles uncovered him while targeting his high school teammate, Jeremy Trueblood, now of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mathias hung a Ugandan flag in his dorm room while at BC to celebrate his heritage and honor his grandfather.

Kiwanuka was selected by the Giants with the last pick in the first round in the 2006 NFL Draft. The Giants acquired the pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh had traded up to select Santonio Holmes. While he played defensive end in college, Kiwanuka won a job as starting outside linebacker for the Giants in 2007. He started 10 games but missed the last month of the regular season as well as New York's postseason run to the title after breaking his leg. The next year, Michael Strahan's retirement and a season ending injury to Osi Umenyiora forced the Giants to move him back to defensive end, where he started all 16 games and registered 8 sacks as the Giants had the best record in the NFC. A relatively quiet 2009 saw Kiwanuka in a substitute role early in the year before starting the last 5 games at defensive end. He appeared on his way to a monster 2010 campaign with 4 sacks in the first 3 games but missed the final 13 games with a herniated disk in his neck.

The 27 year old is now set to be a free agent.

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Comments

Neck injury, Pass

by JetOrange on Jan 31, 2011 8:06 AM EST reply actions

Did he have a lot of injuries in college also?

Get busy winning or get busy losing.

by GangGreenMag on Jan 31, 2011 9:21 AM EST reply actions

Nope

Appeared in 49 games and started 34, he was all Big East his sophomore year and All-American the next two, winning Big East defensive POY his Junior year. I’m biased as a BC guy, but I think we can get him on the cheap and that he would fit very well as a 3-4 rush linebacker. That’s what he was being projected as and early in his career he switched back and forth between DE and LB in the Giants 4-3 set, but I think he could really thrive in our system. If we could get him at maybe a 4 year $10 mil deal that would be a steal.

by revans on Jan 31, 2011 9:33 AM EST up reply actions

I doubt that anyone would be willing to give him anything that long-term given the injury. I’m not sure if its worth THAT much of a risk with cap considerations, assuming that’s coming back into play here.

by Exystence on Jan 31, 2011 9:53 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Definitely intriguing

He’s pretty much a pure pass rusher though, he’s not good in run support or pass coverage from what I’ve heard.

by Exystence on Jan 31, 2011 9:44 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Actually my bad

Apparently he’s good in run support too. The herniated disc sounds bad though. Still, after missing out on possibly trading for Osi Umeniyura(sp?), I’m loathe to miss out on another potentially awesome OLB that we can get this time for just money.

by Exystence on Jan 31, 2011 9:50 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

im all for it if the doctors give him the go ahead.

Maybe a 1 or 2 year deal on the cheap side with a nice performance based escalator. I think he would thrive as a 3-4 olb. He also wouldn’t have to pick up and move (which means a lot), and we won’t have to worry about whether he can handle being in NY (which also means a lot).

Seems like a no brainer. Grab a rush olb in the draft to bring along. Kiwi and pace should be a decent duo. Maybe retain JT for one more year as a specialist since he’s cheap; plus retain Gholston if we can’t trade him for anything since he gives us some flexibility and cutting him saves us nothing against the cap.

by Crackback on Jan 31, 2011 10:21 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

If he could be had for cheap or similar to Jason Taylor money then I say why not, he’s still young and has a lot of talent. Now personally I am still on the lamarr woodley bandwagon, but this might be a cheaper solution. The giants, just like the steelers, breed and groom passrushers, replacing free agents every year

by ThomasU on Jan 31, 2011 9:55 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Giant fan here

He has been a solid player and I think would flourish in a 3-4 scheme as an OLB because he would not be playing on the line as much. He has some trouble with the power game and is not great at the point of attack but hunts RBs down from behind really well thats why the 3-4 would suite him nicely.

The Giants love him but the neck thing is a real issue. The Giants will pay him big money but only for a one year deal. I think the issue is years because of the injury not money. Thats what the Jets would have to consider do you give him a big contract with multiple years even with the injury? Its a risk, I know he wants a long term deal but he might have to accept a short term deal.

My guess if he’s back with the Giants if either his neck has healed 100% or its on a one year deal if other teams like the Jets want to get him they might have to risk a bit more. It’ll be interesteing but he would fit the Jets shceme nicely.

by Landeta on Jan 31, 2011 10:10 AM EST reply actions

He doesn’t seem to make sense for the giants anymore. Not with tuck, osi and a jpp who showed he’s gonna be something special. And giants have other fish to fry with bradshaw and steve smith. Why bother with kiwi, even on a one year deal, when ur pretty loaded with top tier DEs anyway and u have some other important free agens to sign?

by Crackback on Jan 31, 2011 10:30 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

ive been saying kiwanuka would be a great fit for us....

he would come cheap … he is a pure passrusher…. he has played linebacker before this guy reminds me of a tamba hali… he is big and get this……… he is an extremely good run stopper for an end……

by SLAUGHTERHOUSE on Jan 31, 2011 10:33 AM EST reply actions

Yo I feel you

Yo i like Kiwanuka I think he will do good in ganggreens 34 DF he will do better than Taylor, we need pass rushers thats why we lost to the steelers how the f*ck fat ass Ben runs in to the end zone untouched, I’m still having nightmares !!!!!.

TO GIVE A HIT ! YOU GOT TO TAKE A HIT!

by bomberjet on Jan 31, 2011 6:16 PM EST up reply actions